Donations sought to gussy up NS dock

Fishermen who avail themselves of the Old Man Bay dock in North Side now have a bit of shade in which to clean their fresh catches of fish. 

But the work on the dock hasn’t ended; the little hut is only the beginning. 

On Saturday, North Side MLA Ezzard Miller and District Office Manager Archie Whittaker met with about a dozen people at the Retreat at Rum Point to fill them in on dock plans and appeal for funding. 

The meeting comes on the heels of approval from Cabinet for the North Side Community Recreational Park & Pier Project. 

The project “is anticipated to be a great local attraction for both locals and tourists alike. We hope to have this project not only provide entertainment for the general public, but also as a means for the North Side people to display their heritage and also earn a living in these tough economic times,” states a letter to those in attendance. “The park will also serve as an ideal location for community events.” 

It is envisioned the site will become home to such events as Pirates Week, garden parties and small get-togethers. 

The project will entail three piers with cabanas on each and two with an observation deck, restroom facilities, multipurpose courts for volleyball and five-a-side soccer, on-land cabanas for seating and vendor cabanas for North Side residents to sell produce, food, arts and crafts. 

“To make this project become a reality, we require funding,” the letter reads. “We are kindly asking for your generous support to enhance our community.” All donations will be recognised on a commemorative plaque. 

While the shaded area didn’t cost the district anything – area residents constructed the hut and materials of about $2,000 were donated by Kirk Home Centre, Cox and Deals – the finished project will cost about $241,000. 

A breakdown of costs includes: 

2 piers – $80,000 

2 gazebos – $30,000 

Sea wall – $30,000 

4 vendor cabanas – $10,000 

4 seating cabanas – $14,000 

Restrooms – $30,000 

Multipurpose court equipment – $2,000 

500-ft. long sidewalk – $40,000 

Landscaping – $5,000 

Poles for outside lighting have already been placed. 

The project encompasses 660 feet along the coastline, and a width of 92 feet between the water and the road. Some existing seagrape trees would be removed to make room for 10-foot-square cabanas, while other trees would be added in areas now without shade. Plans call for coconut palms and rocks as a roadside border to require parking in paved areas on the inland side of the road. 

Mr. Miller hasn’t requested any money from government for the project, but said he believes “if the community does this project it will have more meaning and ownership will ad respect for the project”. 

Once planning approval is obtained for the project, “I believe we can do this as a community project,” he said in August, because people in North Side have the expertise. 

Those who wish to make a donation may do so at the Royal Bank of Canada under the name of North Side District Council or contact Carol Scott at the bank on 949-4600.